Portrait of William Dobell

William Dobell's Most Famous Paintings: All 100, Ranked

Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 238 works by William Dobell in our catalogue

In short

The William Dobell painting most people know is Still Life with Chagall Print (1933), and you can see it at the Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture, Edinburgh. Right after it come Florence (1924) and Bathers (1925). Out of 238 works by William Dobell in our catalogue, these 100 are the best known. Each one comes with its year, its museum and a short note on what makes it stand out.

1899 – 1970, Cooks Hill Cubism Most works: Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture

William Dobell's top 10: the pieces everyone knows

1
Still Life with Chagall Print (1933) by William Dobell

Still Life with Chagall Print

1933 · Acrylic On Canvas · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture, Edinburgh

A Haunting Still Life: "Still Life with Chagall Print" by Sir William Gillies This evocative artwork, created in 1933, presents a compelling still life imbued with an atmosphere of quiet melancholy and introspection. Dominated by a palette of dark blues and yellows, the composition features a vibrant yet slightly unsettling arrangement of flowers spilling from a vase alongside a striking figure – an elderly man cloaked and hatted, his face…

2
Florence (1924) by William Dobell

Florence

1924 · Acrylic On Canvas · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture, Edinburgh

William George Gillies' "Florence," painted in 1924, isn’t merely a depiction of an Italian city; it’s a vibrant distillation of its spirit – a testament to the enduring beauty and bustling life of one of Europe’s most historically significant urban centers. This captivating canvas transports us directly to the heart of Tuscany, offering a glimpse into a world brimming with energy, commerce, and artistic resonance. The painting immediately draws the…

3
Bathers (1925) by William Dobell

Bathers

1925 · Oil On Canvas · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture, Edinburgh

Sir William George Gillies’ “Bathers” is not merely a depiction of figures enjoying a riverside respite; it's an immersion into the very heart of a fleeting summer afternoon. Painted in 1925, this work transcends simple representation, capturing a mood—a languid sense of contentment and quiet observation—that resonates deeply with the viewer. The scene unfolds within a subtly rendered forest setting, dominated by the cool, reflective surface of the River Seine.…

4
Young Boy with a Teapot (1922) by William Dobell

Young Boy with a Teapot

1922 · Oil On Canvas · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture, Edinburgh

William George Gillies’ “Young Boy with a Teapot” is not merely a depiction of a child; it's a carefully constructed tableau of domesticity, imbued with a poignant sense of stillness and observation. Painted in 1922, during a period of significant artistic experimentation in Scotland – a time marked by the echoes of Cubism and the burgeoning influence of Paul Klee – this work stands as a testament to Gillies’ ability…

5
View to the Pentlands from near Temple by William Dobell

View to the Pentlands from near Temple

Acrylic On Canvas · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture, Edinburgh

William George Gillies (1898–1973), a pivotal figure in Scottish Colourist painting, bequeathed to us not merely landscapes but profound meditations on beauty and perception. His masterpiece, “View to the Pentlands from near Temple,” transcends mere representation; it’s an immersive experience of light, colour, and atmosphere—a testament to Gillies' unwavering dedication to capturing the essence of his surroundings.

9
Still Life in Grey and Brown (1932) by William Dobell

Still Life in Grey and Brown

1932 · Oil On Canvas · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture, Edinburgh

The painting Still Life in Grey and Brown by Sir William George Gillies captures a quiet moment of domesticity. Executed in 1932, the work presents a collection of everyday objects. A pitcher, a bowl, a cup, and a bottle rest upon a surface, their forms defined by muted tones. The piece is held by the Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture.

10
Still Life with Two Lemons (1921) by William Dobell

Still Life with Two Lemons

The morning light settles softly across a kitchen table, catching the waxy skin of two lemons that command the center of the scene. These citrus fruits sit as the heart of the composition, their bright presence anchoring a collection of everyday objects. Nearby, apples rest in a casual arrangement, one drifting toward the left edge while another finds its place on the right. The scene feels lived-in and immediate, as…

Keep exploring William Dobell: 11 to 100

11Duddingston Kirk and Arthur's Seat (1935) by William DobellDuddingston Kirk and Arthur's Seat1935 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 12Still Life with Black Jug (1933) by William DobellStill Life with Black Jug1933 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 13Landscape with Rainbow by William DobellLandscape with RainbowRoyal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 14Flowers in a Blue and White Vase (1934) by William DobellFlowers in a Blue and White Vase1934 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 15Abstract Composition (1935) by William DobellAbstract Composition1935 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 16Shore Scene, West Highlands (1937) by William DobellShore Scene, West Highlands1937 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 17Cottages with Green Fence (1944) by William DobellCottages with Green Fence1944 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 18Comrie Church (1929) by William DobellComrie Church1929 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 19The Red House, Durisdeer (1934) by William DobellThe Red House, Durisdeer1934 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 20Still Life with Blue Background (1945) by William DobellStill Life with Blue Background1945 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 21H. Harvey Wood (1922) by William DobellH. Harvey Wood1922 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 22Ascending (1936) by William DobellAscending1936 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 23The Harbour (1937) by William DobellThe Harbour1937 24Still Life with Scattered Fruit and Grasses (1945) by William DobellStill Life with Scattered Fruit and Grasses1945 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 25Untitled (cut down section of an oil painting used as a mirror backing) (1930) by William DobellUntitled (cut down section of an oil painting used as a mirror backing)1930 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 26My Mother, 1916 (1916) by William DobellMy Mother, 19161916 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 27Autumn, Durisdeer (1934) by William DobellAutumn, Durisdeer1934 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 28The sleeping Greek (1936) by William DobellThe sleeping Greek1936 · Art Gallery of New South Wales 29Laide, Ross shire (1937) by William DobellLaide, Ross shire1937 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 30The Origin of the Milky Way (after Jacopo Tintoretto) (1924) by William DobellThe Origin of the Milky Way (after Jacopo Tintoretto)1924 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 31Gateway, Italy (1924) by William DobellGateway, Italy1924 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 32Temple, Backs of Houses (1945) by William DobellTemple, Backs of Houses1945 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 33Marjory Porter (3) (1935) by William DobellMarjory Porter (3)1935 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 34Red Roofs (1923) by William DobellRed Roofs1923 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 35Head and Shoulders of a Bearded Man (1923) by William DobellHead and Shoulders of a Bearded Man1923 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 36The Bass Rock from Seacliff (1929) by William DobellThe Bass Rock from Seacliff1929 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 37Trees and Reflections (1930) by William DobellTrees and Reflections1930 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 38Marjory Porter (2) (1935) by William DobellMarjory Porter (2)1935 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 39Emma (1921) by William DobellEmma1921 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 40Fishing Boats, Anstruther Harbour (1945) by William DobellFishing Boats, Anstruther Harbour1945 41Life Study (college diploma work) (1922) by William DobellLife Study (college diploma work)1922 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 42Flags and Bunting (1935) by William DobellFlags and Bunting1935 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 43Spinningdale (1939) by William DobellSpinningdale1939 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 44Nungate Bridge, Haddington (1921) by William DobellNungate Bridge, Haddington1921 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 45Duddingston (1929) by William DobellDuddingston1929 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 46Sunshine, Cramond (1921) by William DobellSunshine, Cramond1921 47Trees and Coppice (1928) by William DobellTrees and Coppice1928 48East Lothian Upland (1923) by William DobellEast Lothian Upland1923 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 49Emma and Janet (1925) by William DobellEmma and Janet1925 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 50The boy at the basin (1932) by William DobellThe boy at the basin1932 · Art Gallery of New South Wales 51Nude (1931) by William DobellNude1931 · Art Gallery of New South Wales 52Emma (1931) by William DobellEmma1931 53Border Landscape (1930) by William DobellBorder Landscape1930 54Sisters Emma and Janet (1932) by William DobellSisters Emma and Janet1932 55St Monans, East Neuk of Fife (sketch) (1932) by William DobellSt Monans, East Neuk of Fife (sketch)1932 56Restalrig Village, Edinburgh (1930) by William DobellRestalrig Village, Edinburgh1930 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 57Two Pots, Saucer and Fruit (1933) by William DobellTwo Pots, Saucer and Fruit1933 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 58Near Durisdeer (1932) by William DobellNear Durisdeer1932 59Gardenstown (1932) by William DobellGardenstown1932 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 60Street scene, Pimlico (1937) by William DobellStreet scene, Pimlico1937 · Art Gallery of New South Wales 61Poppies in a Yellow Vase (1934) by William DobellPoppies in a Yellow Vase1934 62Harvest Field (1936) by William DobellHarvest Field1936 63Rocks and Water, Morar (1934) by William DobellRocks and Water, Morar1934 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 64Woods at Humbie, East Lothian (1936) by William DobellWoods at Humbie, East Lothian1936 65Sir William MacTaggart (1903–1981), Artist (1935) by William DobellSir William MacTaggart (1903–1981), Artist1935 66Landscape, Longniddry (1939) by William DobellLandscape, Longniddry1939 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 67Hawksnest Farm (1940) by William DobellHawksnest Farm1940 68Still Life, Flowers and Figures (1943) by William DobellStill Life, Flowers and Figures1943 69Studio Table (1940) by William DobellStudio Table1940 70Temple Village (1940) by William DobellTemple Village1940 71Temple, Winter Street (1940) by William DobellTemple, Winter Street1940 72Rainy Day, Pittenweem (1940) by William DobellRainy Day, Pittenweem1940 73Gattonside (1950) by William DobellGattonside1950 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 74Temple (1940) by William DobellTemple1940 75Poppies and Cretonne Cloth (1940) by William DobellPoppies and Cretonne Cloth1940 76Still Life, Breton Pot (1942) by William DobellStill Life, Breton Pot1942 77Early Morning, Temple (1942) by William DobellEarly Morning, Temple1942 78The Farm Place, Summer (1940) by William DobellThe Farm Place, Summer1940 79Still Life, Pointed Lace (1947) by William DobellStill Life, Pointed Lace1947 80The River and Beech Trees, Temple Woods (1947) by William DobellThe River and Beech Trees, Temple Woods1947 81Spring Evening (1948) by William DobellSpring Evening1948 82Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Duich (1947) by William DobellEilean Donan Castle, Loch Duich1947 83Midlothian Village (1944) by William DobellMidlothian Village1944 84Loch Duich, Kintail (1947) by William DobellLoch Duich, Kintail1947 85Summer (1945) by William DobellSummer1945 86Dusk at Letterfearn (1947) by William DobellDusk at Letterfearn1947 87Winter, Carrington (1947) by William DobellWinter, Carrington1947 88Anstruther Harbour (1945) by William DobellAnstruther Harbour1945 89Still Life with Orange Jug, Flowers and a Yellow Cloth by William DobellStill Life with Orange Jug, Flowers and a Yellow ClothRoyal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 90The Tulip Vase (1944) by William DobellThe Tulip Vase1944 91Brown and Grey Landscape, Pentland Hills (1948) by William DobellBrown and Grey Landscape, Pentland Hills1948 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 92The South Esk in Arniston Grounds (1948) by William DobellThe South Esk in Arniston Grounds1948 93Letterfearn (1947) by William DobellLetterfearn1947 94Still Life, Pot with Evergreen Leaves (1948) by William DobellStill Life, Pot with Evergreen Leaves1948 95Village scene, Mount Hagen (1953) by William DobellVillage scene, Mount Hagen1953 · Art Gallery of New South Wales 96Highland Landscape (1949) by William DobellHighland Landscape1949 97The Green Dish (1950) by William DobellThe Green Dish1950 98Still Life (1950) by William DobellStill Life1950 99Woodland Landscape, Blue Tree (1950) by William DobellWoodland Landscape, Blue Tree1950 · Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture 100Eildon (1949) by William DobellEildon1949 · Arts Council Collection

William Dobell's paintings, period by period

What William Dobell painted most

The four subjects that come up most often in these pieces, each with its best-known example.

Where you can see William Dobell's paintings

The 3 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by William Dobell Paintings from this list
Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture, EdinburghRoyal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture Edinburgh 132 Still Life with Chagall Print, Florence, Bathers
Art Gallery of New South Wales, SydneyArt Gallery of New South Wales Sydney 6 Mrs South Kensington, The sleeping Greek, The boy at the basin
Arts Council Collection, LondonArts Council Collection London 2 Eildon

One famous William Dobell piece for every decade

Works per decade

Pick a decade to see its standout piece.

William Dobell paintings: what people want to know

What painting is William Dobell best known for?See the answer

Top of the list is Still Life with Chagall Print (1933), Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture, Edinburgh. Right behind it: Florence (1924) and Bathers (1925).

How old was William Dobell at the time of Still Life with Chagall Print?See the answer

34 years old. William Dobell was born in 1899, and Still Life with Chagall Print dates from 1933.

Which 10 William Dobell paintings are the most famous?See the answer

Still Life with Chagall Print, Florence, Bathers, Young Boy with a Teapot, View to the Pentlands from near Temple, Mediterranean Landscape with Overcast Sky, Mrs South Kensington, Sir William George Gillies (1898–1973), Artist, Self Portrait, Still Life in Grey and Brown and Still Life with Two Lemons. You'll find the year and the museum of each in the list above.

How many William Dobell works are there?See the answer

We have 238 works by William Dobell in our catalogue, dated 1916 to 1953.

Which museums have William Dobell's best-known paintings?See the answer

You'll find most of them in Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture (Edinburgh), Art Gallery of New South Wales (Sydney) and Arts Council Collection (London). The museum list above has the full breakdown.

When were William Dobell's most famous pieces painted?See the answer

In 1930s, more than any other time: 37 of the 100 pieces on this page date from then, Still Life with Chagall Print among them.

What are the oldest and newest famous paintings by William Dobell?See the answer

The earliest piece here is My Mother, 1916 (1916); the most recent is Village scene, Mount Hagen (1953).

What did William Dobell paint most?See the answer

Landscape (14), Scottish landscape (12) and Scottish art (8), out of the 100 pieces on this page.

What did William Dobell usually paint with?See the answer

Oil On Canvas, used in 26 of the 100 pieces on this page.

Which art movement is William Dobell linked to?See the answer

Cubism, as you can see in the pieces on this page.

What can you see by William Dobell at the Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture?See the answer

You can see 51 of the pieces on this page at the Royal Scottish Academy of Art - Architecture, Edinburgh, including Still Life with Chagall Print, Florence and Bathers.

Meet William Dobell

Sir William George Gillies: A Life in Scottish Art

Early Life and Education

  • Born: Haddington, East Lothian, United Kingdom, 1898.
  • Gillies initially enrolled at the Edinburgh College of Art but his studies were interrupted by service in World War I with the Royal Engineers.
  • Following the war, he returned to complete his education at the Edinburgh College of Art, graduating and subsequently becoming a dedicated teacher there for over 40 years.

Artistic Development and Influences

  • Gillies’ artistic journey began with an exploration of Cubism after studying under André Lhote in Paris (1923) and traveling to Italy (1924).
  • Early works, like “Two Pots, Saucer and Fruit” (1933), demonstrate this influence, showing a Cézanne-inspired arrangement with Braque and Picasso’s understated color palettes.
  • A pivotal moment came in 1934 when he encountered the work of Paul Klee, inspiring him to adopt a more imaginative use of colour and childlike qualities in his compositions.
  • He gradually moved away from strict Cubism, developing a distinctive style rooted in Scottish landscape and still life traditions.

The 1922 Group and Collaborative Spirit

  • In 1922, Gillies co-founded the “1922 Group” alongside fellow artists including William Crozier, William Geissler, and William MacTaggart.
  • This exhibition society provided a platform for emerging Scottish artists to showcase their work at the New Gallery in Edinburgh for a decade.
  • The group fostered a sense of community and innovation within the Scottish art scene.

Themes and Subject Matter

  • Landscapes: Gillies is renowned for his depictions of the Lothian, Fife, and Border regions of Scotland. He captured the essence of these landscapes with a sensitive eye.
  • Still Lifes: Still life compositions were another significant focus, often featuring ceramics created by his younger sister, Emma Smith Gillies, whose premature death in 1936 deeply affected him.
  • Portraiture: While he experimented with portraiture early in his career, landscapes and still lifes became his primary subjects.

Major Achievements and Recognition

  • Gillies served as Principal of the Edinburgh College of Art from 1959 until his retirement in 1966.
  • His prolific output and dedication to teaching had a profound influence on generations of Scottish painters.
  • He was elected a Royal Academician (RA), signifying significant recognition within the art world.

Historical Significance and Legacy

  • Sir William George Gillies is considered one of Scotland’s most important 20th-century painters.
  • His work bridges the gap between early modernism and a distinctly Scottish artistic identity.
  • Legacy: His influence extends beyond his paintings, shaping the direction of Scottish art through his teaching and mentorship.
  • He died in 1973, leaving behind a rich body of work that continues to be celebrated for its beauty, sensitivity, and enduring relevance.

All 238 works by William Dobell →